but that his Lordships actions in the World have been such as will exempt him from any shadow of reflection that can happen by such a Creature as this As to the business of Sir R. Peyton he would conceal nothing that the Council desired to know And first he says that he knows not that Sir Robert was privy to any thing relating to Willoughby but that Mrs. Cellier telling him as he said before the good offices she had done the King and Duke with some that were inflamed against him she named Sir Robert Peyton for one who told her that if he could be forgiven what was past he would come in and help the Government but his greatest fear was from the Duke who was thought to be a person of Animosity that could not forgive That when his Lordship assured Mrs. Cellier of the contrary she told him that Sir Robert would not be willing to meet at any publick place but at Mr. Gadburies he would Where accordingly they met where Sir Robert Peyton declared he would come in to the Kings service to all purposes that he seem'd to complain of some hard measure and doubted much of the Dukes reconciliation but his Lordship going far towards Sir Roberts satisfaction he afterwards met the Duke at his Lordships Lodgings and had all the assurance he could desire which is all that he knows or could say concerning Sir Robert Peyton Willoughby does acknowledge that he told his Lordship of an ill woman in the Dukes Family that corresponded with the Lord Shaftsbury and that he said he had lost one of the Letters His Lordship tells the Board that he cannot but be troubled to have his name mention'd by so infamous a person as this was but yet if any whoever should come to morrow to him again tell him of any dangerous practises against the King and the Government whether the Lord Shaftsbury or any other Lord whatsoever he should hold himself bound in duty to hearken to any such person and to endavour to discover such danger by all the ways he could His Lordship being withdraws Willoughby added that the two Letters mention'd were by him found in a drawer at the Lord Shaftsburies That he gave them to Mrs. Cellier complaining they were Writ in an ill hand but she carried them to the Tower saying the Lady Powis could read any hand And further says that althô the Lords in the Tower found upon perusal of them that they were of no importance yet because they might testifie that he was admitted to privacy with the Lord Shaftsbury they thought fit he should make use of them in the manner he did Mr. John Webb of Missenden in the County of Bucks being call'd in says He knows Mr. Willoughby but remembers not when he went down to his house but that he was sent by Mrs. Cellier not by the Lady Powis that he knows nothing of any Letters sent down by him or of one Mrs. Jean or any other Priest at his house that he onely went down to fetch up a Child Willoughby obejects that he knows Jean so well that at his last coming from home he brought him a Letter from Jean being then at Mrs. Celliers Webb denying this the very Letter found by Sir William Waller is produced and read upon which Mr. Webb said it was possible but he had forgot it And Willoughby saying that Mrs. Cellier was by when that Letter was deliver'd to him Cellier denied it but Willoughby replyed that VVebb knew all as well as what he would now excuse The Copy of the aforesaid Letter from H. Jean to Mr. VVilloughby SIR I Received yours on Monday last and think my self much obliged to you for that you remember your Captive Friend It is some divertisment to my retired Life to hear sometimes how affairs stand both that I may the better know how to set my steps that are laid for Innocent men and learn also how to value an innocent solitude more than the tumults of a confused VVorld I perceive by yours the old Sticklers are still busie and strive to blind the peoples Eyes with a Popish Plot that their own may not be seen when was there ever Mischief or Treason hatcht against Monarchy but under the Cloak of Religion and Zeal against Popery Things are so plain that who is not wilfully blind must needs see the good Old Cause taking Life again God bless the King and direct his Council That we may live in Peace and Justice under him This is the Prayer of SIR Your very humble Servant H. JEAN Octob. 1st 1679. Pray present my humble Service to Mounsieur Cellier and his Lady John Porter Butler to the Lord Powis being sworn says that he is a Protestant That he has seen Willoughby at Powis house several times and that he lodged there but not by the knowledge of the Lord or Lady as the Porter told him he remembers that Lane was also there by the name of Johnson he does confess he gave VVilloughby a bottle of Sherry at the Tower but not by the Lords order and that VVilloughby dined there another day and that he did lead VVilloughby to the Lodgings of the Lord Arundel and the Lord Bellasis John Lane being call'd in says that he lay at Powis house for a Moneth or six Weeks by order of VVilloughby and Mrs. Cellier from whom he had his Diet. That he went by the name of Johnson fearing to be arrested by Mr. Oates for what he had testified against him and in that fear he went down to Grayes near Gravesend and had a pair of Shoes given him by VVilloughby who also got him out of Prison which was a chargeable work He says he made an Affidavit before Sir James Butler And being ask't by one of the Lords whether he had not before the House of Lords made two contrary Affidavits he acknowledged that out of fear he did so but that the first drawn by Willoughby as Mr. Nevil had directed was true and the other false Mr. Knox being call'd in says he knows Willoughby when he met at Powis house going there in search of Lane who was to give Evidence for him that the Examinant knowing in whose house he had been was much troubled inasmuch as he is a Protestant It is true that he being in Prison Writ little Notes to his Brother under the door but knows not who conveyed them That he knows Mrs. Ayry that he has seen Mr. Willoughby at Mrs. Celliers house and there has had some money of him though he was ever Cautious of him fearing he was a Papist That he met him once at Procters Coffe house where an Affidavit made by Osborn was read unto him and owns that Willoughby did deliver Papers to him He also owns that Rogers and Shereman the Sadler did tell him that they heard Nevil report how he had furnisht money to get the Examinant out of Prison which he with anger questioning Nevil about Nevil made answer it was true and
Shaftsbury's and tell him as follows Viz. That if he should be sent for before the King and Council and there have several Impeachments of High Treason drawn against him and be thence committed to the Tower and the Testimony in many of the said Impeachments to be from Letters written with his own hand that then I might hope his Lordship would believe I was his faithfull Servant Thus instructed Mr. Dangerfield attends the Earl being arm'd as before with his Dagger his Lordship being in discourse with a person of Honour commanded Mr. Day to be put into a Chamber which had a passage into the Dining Room till his Lordship could be at leisure Mr. Day thought he might now effect his matters and coming softly into the Entry that leads to the Dining-Room stood listning to hear when that Noble Personage should depart presuming as indeed it fell out that the Lords Servants would wait on that Noble Lord down to his Coach and that the Lord Shaftsbury being for a while left alone he might dispatch him and clear himself of the House before the return of the Servants As soon as that Nobleman departed the Servants there waited on him down the Stairs but unhappily for Mr. Day just at that Lords going out came another Gentleman in who entertain'd his Lordship with some discourse but Mr. Day hearing no voice presum'd the happy hour was come and therefore throwing open the door was coming up towards his Lordship when he unexpectedly espies a young Gentleman with him This surprized him and finding the season lost he retires to the Room where he was before This Action gave some apprehension to his Lordship who as soon as his Servants were returned and the Gentleman withdrawn sends for Mr. Day to come to him who after his former Preface That he had matters of great Concern to communicate to his Lordship desired that his Servants might be commanded to withdraw but his Lordship being somewhat the more awaken'd by the late Carriage of Mr. Day told him He must not expect that from him but that if he had business of moment to Impart as he pretended he should impart it He thereupon begins to tell his Lordship that he was in danger of being questioned for his Life that his Servants were false to him that they did copy out his Letters and Papers and communicated them whence would be drawn matter to form an Impeachment against him His Lordship askt Which of his Servants they were that had thus Copied out his Writings And when Mr. Day replyed That he knew not his Honour return'd Sir I can now tell you that every word of what you say is false for I have no Papers no Letters which if known to all the World would endanger one hair of my head and therefore it cannot be that any such Impeachment should be form'd out of any Letters of mine If that be your Lordships opinion answer'd Mr. Day I shall take my leave Mr. Day being thus a second time disappointed sends the Lords word of it by his Boy and the next day Mr. Woods came and said His Lord wonder'd I had been so great a Coward and so order'd Mr. Day alias Dangerfield to goe to the King and tell him that he had been again with the Lord Shaftsbury lest the Lord Shaftsbury should first acquaint his Majesty with it Mrs. Cellier sends him to Lord Peterburghs to tell him what had happen'd and how he had been twice at Lord Shaftsburies and he was well pleased as Mr. Dangerfield upon Oath informs and promised him when any Forces were raised he would put in for a Regiment of Horse then he would make Mr. Dangerfield Captain of a Troop And added Be sure you do his business the third time And when the Lady Powis came next to Mrs. Celliers she would have perswaded him to a third attempt upon the Lord Shaftsbury which he refusing she struck him gently with her Fan on the hand calling him Cow-hearted Fellow and said She her self would goe But Mrs. Cellier answered No Madam that shall never be for I will make the World know That our Sex are braver than they of the Masculine and my self will goe and do the work To which the Lady Powis returned Alas all our men of Courage are sent out of the world or secured for to be so And she was as good as her word as to the Attempting part for the same or the very next day this Virago that deserves a place amongst the worthy Confessors in the Roman Calendar visited his Lordship and Complementing his Lordship highly for his Moderation towards the Catholicks would have insinuated her self into his good thoughts but his Lordship made perhaps more cautelous by the late demeanour of Mr. Day kept a strict eye upon her and observing her to be fumbling about her Petticoat or Pockets gently as if between Jest and Earnest layd his hands upon hers and pleasantly drolled with her till she seemed ready to take her leave but she was not gone far towards the door but that reflecting upon her self that she should promise so high and come off doing as little as Mr. Day whose Cowardise she had scorned she suddenly returns towards his Lordship which he observing steps to her and laying his hands on hers as before dasht her out of Countenance that she was forced to depart to tell a sad story of her failure to those who waited to see the fruit of her great and daring Promises 8. These Conspirators being thus frustrated in their designed Death of the Earl of Shaftsbury yet were not discouraged in the main of their Contrivance which was to fasten this grand Treason against His Majesties Person and Government upon the Protestants And therefore being resolved to drive the Nail home it was judged absolutely necessary to possess His Majesty with it A mighty Point it would be if they could make it to impose so far upon His Majesties well-known Judgment That His Protestant Subjects should grow so weary of His Person and Government as to desire a change when he knew that they knew how much their Interest and that of their Religion was wrapt up in His Majesties Life and Prosperity And therefore they would first endeavour to lodge this Intreague with His Royal Highness who being then returned to Town the Lord Peterborough says Dangerfield sent for me to give him an account of this New Plot but I was unprovided But I met with Mr. Woods and he sate down and wrote what came uppermost or what he was ordered at least as he told me but some things I was forc'd to put in also Then the Lady Powis recommended me to the Lord Peterborough and desired him by a Letter which Mrs. Cellier carried as she told me to take me to His R. Highness which he did but first demanded of me what I could say or if the Lady Powis had given me any Directions in the same We staid in the Lord Peterboroughs Closet in his Lodgings
5000 l to which he answered I will not meddle in it it troubles my conscience and it were but treachery in me if it were done and it is to no purpose to meddle in it for there is a List found out or to that effect Jurat Die Anno supradict coram me Edm. Warcup Jane Bradley Sunday November 2. 1679. At the Council-Board 1. John Gadbury being examined saith he hath seen VVilloughby once or twice at his House with Mrs. Cellier and that he believes he may have cast his Nativity by the name of Thomas at the desire of Mrs. Cellier and two more Nativities for her two Daughters He says that looking upon VVilloughby's Horoscope it prognosticates a bold and adventurous man but does not remember that he said to Mrs. Cellier that he would be hang'd but it 's possible he might That he cast likewise the Lord Powis's Nativity as he doth that of all Persons of Quality the certain time of whose Birth he can be assured of 2. Matthew Hopkinson a Scrivener over against Somerset-House acknowledges that he transcribed a List of Names and a Letter of Mr. VVilloughby's in a Room two pair of stairs high but he does not remember that it was out of a womans hand And the List and Letter being shewed to him he owned them to be his hand-writing 3. Sir James Buttler owned the taking of an Affidavit of Lane about Buggery charg'd upon Mr. Oates and that a woman came with the said Lane to him 4. Thomas Jolly the Taylor being sworn says he carried a Letter from Mrs. Cellier to the Lady Powis and brought back an Answer Mr. VVilloughby being then present That he hath seen Mr. VVilloughby half a dozen times at Mrs. Celliers Upon the full hearing of these several Informations and Examinations we have this publick account of the result of the Council VVhite-Hall November 2. Mr. Thomas Dangerfield aliàs VVilloughby having been examined the 27 th past by the Lords of His Majestie 's Privy-Council concerning certain dangerous and treasonable Papers seised in Colonel Roderick Mansel's Chamber which it appeared to their Lordships had been by him conveyed thither was therupon by Order of the Board committed to Newgate and having since given in an Information to the Lord Mayor of London of several treasonable practises against His Majestie 's Person and Government and of his having been prevailed with by several of the Popish Religion to counterfeit the above-mentioned Papers and Letters by which divers Noblemen and other Protestants were to have been brought under a suspicion of carrying on a Plot against His Majestie 's Government And the said Information being yesterday morning brought to His Majesty by the Lord Mayor and by His Majesty sent to the Council-Board Mr. Dangerfield was sent for and further examined by their Lordships who thereupon the last Night committed the Earl of Castlemain to the Tower and Mrs. Cellier to Newgate and did this day likewise commit Mr. Gadbury to the Gate-house and Mr. Rigaut to Newgate several other Persons accused being in the Custody of His Majestie 's Messengers and their Lordships have appointed the further Examination of this Matter on Tuesday next Novemb. the 2d the same day 1. The Deposition of William Woodman taken upon Oath on the 2d of Novemb. 1679. before the Lords of His Majesties Most Honourable Privy Council Who saith That he hath known Mr. Willoughby at the Lord Powis his House for about Two Moneths time and that he hath seen him and Mrs. Cellier write there very often That he carried a Packet of Letters from Mr. Willoughby or Mrs. Cellier to the Lady Powis at the Tower and that her Ladyship opened the Packet and read some of the Letters and gave others to him the said Woodman who carried them to one Nevile in the Kings-Bench and that he hath carried Letters divers times between Mrs. Cellier and Mr. Willoughby and Nevile William Woodman 2. The Information of Mary Ayray taken upon Oath the 2d day of Novemb. 1679. before the Lords of His Majesties Most Honourable Privy Council This Informant saith upon her Oath That she went with Willoughby and Duddell to Nevile in the Kings-Bench and left Willoughby at a Coffee-house by the way and carried a Sheet of Notes taken at Langhorne's Tryal which Willoughby writ but was given her by Mrs. Cellier to carry to Nevile And she saith she carried a Letter from Nevile to Mrs. Cellier and a Letter from Mrs. Cellier to the Lady Powis she has also seen Singe with Mrs. Cellier and she has seen Willoughby write the Speeches of the Five Jesuites the which Mrs. Cellier did dictate to him And saith also That she has seen Lane at Powis-House who went by the name of Johnson and that Mrs. Cellier ordered him to be called by that Name This Informant also saith that she went with my Lady Abergaveny last Winter to the Earl of Shaftsbury about her being Indicted as a Popish Recusant but has not been at any other time since with the Earl of Shaftsbury but knows nothing of the Earl of Shaftsbury's being threatned to be killed by the Lady Abergaveny And saith That Mr. Nevile did bid her tell my Lady Powis that he would write to his Friend Mary Ayray 3. The Information of Bennett Duddell a Joyner Taken upon Oath before His Majesty in Council Nov. 2. 1679. The Informant saith That he hath wrought at Powis House and hath there seen Mr. Willoughby that he went with Mrs. Ayray to see one in Prison in the Kings-Bench but knew not that his Name was Nevile that Mr. Willoughby stayed in the mean time at a Coffee-house thereby He saith that when they returned they brought some Papers with them and that soon after Mrs. Ayray went to the Tower That he hath at Powis House seen Mr. Willoughby Mrs. Cellier and others often Writing He remembers that one Mr. Lane lay there in the House and that Mrs. Cellier was once in great fear when she thought that Lane was lost He doth remember that Mr. Willoughby did once ask him if he could make a Hand-Press in order to Printing and he made answer he would ask the Lord Powis and his Lady if he might make such a thing He says he went Once or Twice with Mrs. Ayray to the Gatehouse who went with money to the Prisoners But the reason of his being the more with Mrs. Ayray was by the reason of a Match proposed by Mrs. Cellier between him and her That in Powis House there is a private place made by him and by the Lady Powis Order Sworn before the King in Council Bennett Duddell Tuesday Novemb 4th 1679. His Majesty sate in Council in the Afternoon to Examine further into the Discovery made by Thomas Dangerfield alias Willoughby 1. The Lady Powis was called in to whom the Deposition of Woodman being read her Ladyship said That to her knowledge she never had Packet from Willoughby or ever sent a Packet to Nevile That she has had
one Mrs. Webb's at Peterley with a Letter to one Mrs. Jean and when he came thither he finds this Mrs. Jean not a Woman but a Man nay a Priest who immediately upon reading the Letter made him Confess and Receive the Sacrament to be true to the whole cause and this Jeane made up the Papers for the Plot against the Presbyrians which Paper was only the ground of it and was to be drawn up by the Lords and Mr. Nevil as he told Mr. Dangerfield And afterwards Mr. Woods told me the Lords had consulted together that before Oates was Indicted there should a Rumour be spread abroad of a Plot amongst the Presbyterians and something of it made appear and that I may not be tedious in a matter so acknowledged he further deposes That one Dowdel came to him with 27 Letters to be transcribed most of them written by Mr. Nevils own hand That Mr. Turner the Lord Powis his Priest desired Mrs. Cellier to get some Catholicks to write out several Copies which he then had accordingly she sent for one Singe a School-master who wrote there a week more or less The Contents of as many of them as I can remember says he are as follows ' That their business here at London went on very well and hoped theirs did the same in the Country and Commissions would shortly be ready mentioning in some Letters many Noble Persons Names and that we will now be our own choosers in matters of Government and take our own pleasures with Popery ' Many or most of them Importing the same sense with those taken by the Custom-House Officers c. These were to be sent into all parts of the Kingdom where any Presbyterians Lived to be put into their Houses privately and then by some other Persons the House to be searcht and these Papers produced in Testimony against them This is the fact so it was and so they projected the matter and judg'd themselves very politick in the projection for how readily would the sparks of such a suggestion take with great Multitudes against the Presbyterians when their old animosity did yet smoother nor could the old grudge be quenched And though many rayled at the Presbyterians out of custom because they had contracted an evil habit of rayling and could not leave it others from Example swearing and rayling because their Companions whetted their already too keen inclinations others perhaps out of Ignorance who neither knew what a Presbyterian nor Presbytery was yet it was a Common Theme to rail on and therefore were the more ready at it yet the Designers had a further reach to weaken the Protestant Cause by rendring so many of them unserviceable to the Interest of England which by such scandalous reflexions they must needs be 4. Another step I would make is this However the vogue carried it for a Presbyterian Plot yet the inside was a Protestant plot which if my proper Province were to Reason out the matter might be easily demonstrated for the Church of England is an object more adaequate to Papal Covetousness and Envy then the Dissenters and their Friends can show what great temptation is there in the Skins of a few half-starved Non-Conformists when the Revenues of the Church of England and fair Estates of the Nobility and Gentry of that Communion were a morsel that might awaken the dullest appetite but the fact is that I must clear let it therefore be noted of All those Noble Persons that they had nominated for a Council of State to manage this War against the Government not above one could be with any tolerable propriety of speech called Presbyterian none being more worthy Personages nor any more really and zealously devoted to the true Interest of this Church The Duke of Monmouth whom they created General over this terrible Army the Lord Grey the Lord Gerrard and his Son who with Sir Thomas Armstrong were Commissioned for Leiutenant Generals were none of them ever suspected of Presbyterianisme and should I look over the Clubbs where the Meal Tubb Intelligence informs us that the Persons who were there employed as Writers and Messengers into the Country when occasion should require were all to be Field Officers yet amongst these I cannot pick out half a dozen Presbyterians and its harsh to denominate an Army that must overturn the Government of three Kingdoms from so inconsiderable a Number but of this there will be further evidence when we come to exemplifie the platform of this design as it was laid in the above-mentioned Papers 5. Having got this general Idaea of the Plot in their Heads which yet was not a peice of exact proportion but left to more mature Counsels to be polished It was time to think and pitch upon fit Instruments for the executing of it that is to make it stick to those persons whose forward Zeal against the late Popish design against His Majesties Person Government and the Protestant Religion had made must obnoxious to their Malice and revenge And herein they proceeded with much caution as became their wisdoms who knew well that many well laid designes such as promised great hopes of a good issue had miscarried through the insufficiency of those to whose Hands the management was committed Madam Cellier by Calling a Midwife whose Employ chiefly was with Catholick Ladies and Gentlewomen was very serviceable in delivering the Catholick Cause of this birth wherewith it had gone so long and was now in the pangs and throws of bringing forth This Gentlewoman by the means of one Mrs. White was brought to Mr. Danger field than a Prisoner in Newgate She there examined his capableness for business and because Instruments may be used but cannot be formed for a trial of his Abilities Let me see says she how you can draw up Articles against Captain Richardson Hereupon she gave him Instructions who performed the first Essay of his Art to her satisfaction and then told him She had something of greater moment for him to undertake but Mr. Dangerfield being then a Prisoner some Expedient must be used for his Enlargement that he might enter upon his charge and to this end she advises him to Complain to Mr. Recorder in whom she would make such an Interest by Alderman Jefferies as to get his Petition granted Then she employs one Mr. Williams a Sollicitor to Bail him out which yet could not be effected in less then three weeks however Madam Cellier sent her Maid Margret every day to supply his wants with mony to support his Spirits with good words such as administred hope and not long after he was bailed after that this charitable Person through whose hands much of the Romish benevolence passed had cleared the Fees and expenses of the Prison But he was no sooner discharg'd from Newgate but he vvas Arrested and thrown into the Counter This surpriz'd Mrs. Cellier yet she sends her trusty Maid Margaret to assure him that if he vvould forthvvith be at Liberty she vvould purchase it
there are intimations of great havock that would suddenly be made by John Presbyter but that vengeance would suddenly overtake them And this may further be observed that this Thompson has been a notorious Engine in all Popish Designs and to this day abuses the World with his weekly Domestick Intelligence And lastly let me note but one Paragraph more out of his Information I met says he the Lady Powis soon after at Mris. Celliers and told her of their proceedings who liked it well but told me I must go forward with all speed in some Intrigue against the Duke came to Town to make him believe the Presbyterians were plotting against the King then the Way was consulted and the next day upon Mris. Celliers return from the Lady Powis who had sent for her to the Tower she told me I must give Money to some people that were idle and appear'd well to go to the Coffee-houses and Clubs and endeavour to learn how things stood where I sound all things very hot against the Presbyterians and that the Plot was discover'd to be theirs This being first set on foot by some of our Accomplices as Wood Dormer the Virginia Merchant Gadbury and divers others and I was to further it But because this was a matter of great moment and that upon the right conduct thereof the Prosperity of their whole Cause depended It was thought adviseable to crave Foreign Counsels and accordingly a Letter was sent to Bruxels to Mr. Holder stating the whole Design and earnestly desiring his Advice therein and further to procure the Impressions of several Coats of Arms to be cut there which were fixt to the Margin of the Letter which Letter was conveyed by one M ris Katherine Holder living in St. James's to her Uncle and in one of the Answers to these Letters I heard says Mr. Dangerfield the Lady Powis read as follows If you had taken this Course sooner much blood might have been saved but I doubt 't is now too late and fear the St. Omers Testimony being so baffled has much empair'd our endeavours yet to my power I will assist and advise you to goe on 7. Though matters seem'd so well concerted yet there were some difficulties in the way which in order to a happy procedure must be removed And the greatest Obstacle in their way was the Life of the Earl of Shaftsbury A person whose fixedness to the true Interest of his Majesty and the Protestant Religion they well knew whose profound Judgment to dive into all Mysteries and whose Wisdom to obviate their Designs they feared and therefore his Person was by them mortally hated and nothing can quench their fiery rage but his Blood The Lady Abergaveney told Mr. Dangerfield it was as easie for him to kill the Lord Shaftsbury as a Bird on a Tree and when he demanded How she then and there proposed Divers ways saying She was often with the said Lord who talked so cruelly against the Catholicks that she could not endure to hear it but yet was forced to hold a Candle to the Devil amongst others wherein Mr. Knolles and Mr. Sharp also agreed one was That Mr. Dangerfield should pretend himself a person good at Curing the Gout and that she would recommend him to the said Lord this the Lady Powis liked well but said she would let the Lords know it And now if by this Expedient he could be admitted to such a nearness to his Lordships person he might have pickt some convenient time to Cure him of that and all other Diseases We must remember that when Mr. Dangerfield was in the Tower with the Lords Powis and Arundel who offer'd 2000 l. for the Murder of the King that being refused Immediately 500 l. was offered for the Murdering the Earl of Shaftsbury and when Mr. Dangerfield asked them how it might be atchieved they both replyed Easily enough For said the Lord Powis two nights since my man Woods was there to deliver a Message and he sorely repented he was not provided though there more twenty or more persons in the Room But if he were out of the way said the Lord Powis we might easily overrun the rest of our Opposites Then says Mr. Dangerfield I promised I would and the Lord Powis gave me ten Guinneys and told me a Virginia Merchant should come to me the Sunday following to Mris. Celliers house and advise with me about it And accordingly this Merchant came at the time and place appointed who entred into discourse with me about it and I seem'd to be very willing to undertake it and he advised me to consult with Mr. Dormer and all the persons concern'd therein how to carry it on and on Munday I went to Confession to Mr. Knowles and received the Sacrament Yet still something or other Intervened which deferred the execution of the design against the Lord Shaftsbury till the Lady Powis came to me and bid me these are his own words go to Mr. Sharp to Confession and Receive for I must speedily or on the next Order go to the Lord Shaftsbury I did then go and Confess and Receive of Mr. Sharp who conjur'd me by all that was good to use all speed imaginable for the stabbing the Lord Shaftsbury which I promised to doe and left him But Mris. Cellier received a Letter that night that I must go to the said Lord and say as follows My Lord I am a Stranger and am neither introduced nor sent by any Person but desire to know if it be in my power to serve your Lordship if your Honour will shew me favour Then Mrs. Cellier gave me a Dagger three or four such being brought to her the Sunday before by the Virginia Merchant and dispatcht me away Mr. Dangerfield under the Name of Mr. Day addresses himself to this famous Exployt and coming to the Earls house desires a Servant to acquaint his Lord that a Gentleman had some Affairs with him of great Importance His Lordship commands him to be conducted into the Dining-room whither his Lordship as soon as he had dispatch those persons who attended him came waited on by his Servants Mr. Day intimates to him that he had something to discover to his Honour of the highest Concern for his Lordship to know but withall such as required the greatest secresie and therefore humbly requested that his Servants might be discharged their present attendance which his Lordship as peremptorily refusing as it was importunately urged Mr. Day replyed That because he had not his Proofs ready at present which yet in a little time he should he would take his leave at present and within a few dayes wait again on his Lordship and for that time he departed Mr. Dangerfield at his return gives an account to Mrs. Cellier That he was disappointed but would take some other opportunity she gives advice of this to the Tower And about two dayes after meeting with the Lady Powis at Mrs. Celliers she tells him he must go again to the Lord
in Whitehall for some time till the D. returned from Supper then he took me and Mrs. Cellier to the D s. Closet where we both had the honour to kiss his Royal Hand and me he took from the ground where I was kneeling and then I delivered the Papers and spoke according to my Orders After this the Lord Peterborough told me I must go again to the D. as by his Lordships means I did and His R. Highness told me I must go to the King and give His Majesty an account at large of all that the Papers mentioned and told me the King would order me money to proceed in the Discovery and then he gave me twenty Guinneys and I came away and gave an account to the Lords of all and that I must go to the King and desired to know what I must say That night I received no Answer more than that the Lady Powis would be with me the next day at three of the Clock and so she was at Mrs. Celliers house where she told me I must stick hard against the Lord Shaftsbury Lord Grey Lord Howard D. of Monmouth Lord D. of Ducks Sir Will. Waller Coll. Blood and divers others And that I must tell what Clubs I had enquired out and where and that they were all of the Faction and that if His Majesty had died at Windsor they had posted about the Town and Suburbs a considerable Army to have taken possession of the Government and did design to bring the same to a Common-wealth and set up the D. of Monmouth therein and that the Lord Shaftsbury and others were issuing out Commissions to that effect and had promised some to divers persons and that I had the promise of a Commission from one of the Presbyterian Party To this effect I told His Majesty His Majesty no doubt saw through this thin Contrivance and yet that he might not seem wholly to reject an Information that pretended so highly to his Service he encouraged me says Dangerfield and ordered Coll. Halsall that I might be furnisht with monies and I received soon after from the said Coll. 40 l. who told me I must make out things plainer or the King would not be well pleased which I promised to do and so took my leave Mr. Dangerfield now goes home and sends Mrs. Celliers to the Tower to let the Lords know what had happen'd and all were well pleased and much rejoyced at his good success but desired he would not apply himself any more to the King by the means of Coll. Halsall for they believed he would discover him 9. What Informations were given to His Majesty at this and other times by Mr. Dangerfield we must now make out from that Book found in Mrs. Celliers house in a Meal-Tub by Sir William Waller whose diligence nothing could escape whose industry no pains could weary and whose courage no terrours of Popish Enemies could abate A true and exact Copy of the Book found by Sir Will. Waller at Mrs. Celliers house in the Meal-Tub on Wednesday Octob. 29. 1679. Major Alsop's promise to me for a Commission Mr. Goodings promise to support D. M. if banished Friday night the 12th of Septemb. D. Monm went to the Sun-Tavern to converse with Player and Jencks for the setling Affairs and also a supply for himself if banished The manner of the meeting of four several Clubs viz. At the King's-Head Tavern at the Green-Dragon Tavern at the Sun-Tavern and one at a Chandlers-Shop in Westminster which are at present employed as Writers and Messengers into the Country but when occasion shall require they are to be Field-Officers The manner of sending those Messengers The manner of their meeting for the better concurrence of all matters Their way of contributing how often and for what purposes it is done The posture they were in for a Rising in the City if His Majesty had died The design of Rising in the North to joyn with the Scots and what shall occasion that Rising there Gooding's Account of the Chief Persons and Commanders there among them viz. Lord Shaftsbury Lord Hallifax Lord Radnor Lord Essex Lord Wharton D. Buckingham Councillors D. Monmouth General Lord Grey Lord Gerrard and his Son Sir Tho. Armstrong Lieutenant Generals Blood and Waller to be Major Generals The Field and other Officers most of them meet at the several Clubs together with some that are in the Country The considerable Parties would come from His Majesties horse and foot Guards to joyn them when occasion should require Alsop and Gooding promise to introduce me to Lord Shaftsbury to be employ'd as a spie and to have the promise for a Commission That only the consent of Sir J. P. D. B. Sir W. W. Sir R.P. was wanting to give the stroke but if they would not comply it should be done otherwise as at the Parliaments c. A Parchment was seen in the hands of Captain England by Bed on Munday the 22d of Sept. 79. which was written on in indented letters These are to Authorize c. And thirteen Label seals to it This at Bloods Club. On the same night was a secret Cabal held at Bloods house The next being Tuesday night was one at Sir W.W. Gooding told me a Corporal of his acquaintance was going to be listed to discipline men Friday the 19 of September a person was sent from Bloods Club to Huntingdon about weighty business and is not yet returned which causes some fear of miscarriage Sept. 30th the Messenger returned from Huntingdon who said he had finisht the business he went about and that all that part of the Country was in good readiness Saturday the 5th of October a Cabalmet at Wallers to consult about the affaires of other Counties but particularly for the present the County of Dorset Devon and Cornwal and in order thereunto two persons were sent away with great Pacquets and in one of them were divers Papers like printed warrants and names and seals to the same but the person who saw them could not come to read one my Author is Alsop Munday the 7th a Cabal met at Wallers in order to the Dispatch of divers persons into the North and to York City to a Club there at one Lees house a Tallow-Chandler These go into some part of Scotland too before they return and yet are obliged to return before the 30th of this Month. Sir W.W. promise to B. for a Commission Lord S. promise of a Commission to c. Goodings promise to me of the list of 5000. c. Sept. 9. Brown produced a paper to the company who all approved of it but especially one Desny who said Cursed be the man whose mind is not suitable to this Paper One Mason at the same place said after some discourse of affairs that all within 20 miles round London were raedy to strike whensoever they should be commanded and that against the Kings Interest too and said it was not the French Kings pretended Invasion should put them in
and how often And how long he has had the counterfeit Guinney and from whom And how he came to attend the Council just that morning I was there And if I mistake not he has since declared If I had not spoke to him he would have said nothing to me Why then should Mr. Doyley now pretend to produce the counterfeit Guinney against me Or why not when he see me in the Tower or since for he has met me divers times in the streets Can this appear to be any more than envy in the highest or some mercenary act of Mansell or his Interest to invalidate my testimony and strengthen their design Now my Lords I humbly conceive that the Guinney being counterfeit is Treason and if Mr. Doyley knew me the author of it it must also be Treason in him for concealing it thus long for though he may have His Majesties Commission to apprehend such he is not to conceal compound or smuther any such crime after twenty four hours of himself which he hath done in this He also went divers times to one William Leigh a prisoner in Newgate and by him apprehended for clipping and coining and offer'd to sue out his pardon for sixscore pounds and he not be indicted for the crime which had been done had not some friend prevented and so he would have done with divers others which were tryed in York-shire By all matters and things it's clear as the Sun they have stir'd up all the firebrands could be thought of to burn me with but I know I am before a Just and Wise King whom I humbly implore to inspect and consider my honest endeavours to do your Majesty service Having given the Reader the Copy of his Instructions I now proceed to Col. Mansell's part of the story more explicitely where we shall see how exactly Mr. Dangerfield kept to them The true manner of Mr. Dangerfield's leaving the Treasonable Papers in the Lodgings of Colonel R. Mansell ON Wednesday October 15. 1679 Mr. Willoughby under the feigned name of Mr. Thomas who the same day under the borrowed name of Mr. Day had attempted the Lord Shaftsbury came to the house of Mr. Alexauder Harris in Axe-yard in Kingstreet Westminster and enquired for Lodgings but because nothing would please him but the two rooms of one floor and one pair of stairs high of which the room forward was already disposed of and of which the Gentleman in possession could not be dispossess'd without his consent which at that time could not through his absence be desired Mr. Thomas for that time departed He had then many Irons in the fire and some of them if he were not very nimble would cool for he was not to take a step without advice from his great Masters which having gotten he returns and on Friday Octob. 17. drives a bargain at first word for those two rooms giving at first word whatever the Gentlewoman of the house asked for a little money must not break the squares in an affair of this weight Col. Mansells favour being obtained to remove one pair of stairs higher forward that he might not hinder the house of so beneficial a Lodger as Mr. Thomas promised to be When he came this day the Gentlewoman of the house being abroad he was conducted by a kinswoman into the room whither the Colonel was to remove and there left to his own thoughts for about half an hour in which time it now appears by his own confession that he fixed the Troublesome and Treasonable Papers behind the beds head He promised to come that night with his friend for whom he pretended to have taken the other room but having advice to give what he had done and advice to take how further to proceed he came not till the next day Saturday Octob. 18. when he enquired whether his Trunks were come but they had heard of none After much impertinent discourse he departs a second time promising to come to take possession the next night for that night he could not his friend being out of Town yet he failed then also but on Monday Octob. 20. he visited them with short inquiries whether his Trunks were come and being answered negatively he once more disappears On Tuesday night having by that time gotten full instructions how to proceed about ten of the clock at night he appears with one Captain Bedford in his company who as he told the house was that Friend for whom he had taken the other Lodging and both lay in one bed in the room one pair of stairs forward On Wednesday between seven or eight a clock in the morning Col. Mansell being gone out about his occasions came two Officers of the Custom-house with a Constable to search for prohibited or uncustomed Goods They first went into the Chamber where Mr. Thomas and his friend lay and from thence conducted by Mr. Thomas into the Colonels Chamber where they made a thorough search breaking open the Colonels Trunks and Boxes examining the Bed-clothes and at last after intimation given by Mr. Thomas they proceeded to remove the Bed which they did three foot from the Wall but could find nothing till Mr. Thomas went behind it and there espied a Packet of papers he that hides can find and presently asks What 's that there Mr. Thomas with great haste snatches a paper out of the Officers hand and ere he could have time to read the contents cryed out Here 's Treason It was a list of names some at length others only with the initial letters The searcher opening another paper and beginning to read Mr. Thomas again cryes out There 's Treason against His Majesty and therefore the papers and the person upon whom they were found had he been present ought to be secured The Officers knowing better what belong to their own Office than that of a Justice of the Peace take these papers and carried them not to a Secretary of State as Mr. Thomas charged them but to their own Masters at the Custom-house permitting a Gentlewoman there present at the request of Mrs. Harris to go along with them Mrs. Harris being in a great perplexity at this unexpected and surprizing seizure yet lost not the use of her prudence but sends her brother and presently follows her self to find out the Colonel at the sign of the Cat in St. Pauls Churchyard where the Colonel left word at his going abroad he might be spoke with at eleven of the clock and she met him just going to the designed place She relates him all amazed the whole of this affair and out of her too great care for his safety advised him to take Lodgings in the City promising to convey to him the rest of his goods But the Colonels Innocency and Courage would not suffer him to follow the well-meant but really ill counsel for then his withdrawing had been a flight his flight had proved his guilt and his personal guilt had involved hundreds of innocent persons with him in the
condemnation He therefore answers That he was not conscious to himself of any Treasonable Designs and therefore would go to the Custom-house to know by what authority his Box was seized and what was become of these pretended papers Whither immediately he went There he meets with one Mr. Bostock that had searcht his Chamber who informed him That one Mr. Willoughby the Monday before came and informed of 2000 l. worth of Flanders silver and gold Lace stowed in such a place and this was the Contrivance of Mrs. Celliers own Mother-wit who when Mr. Willoughby was at a loss how to proceed with the Colonel when he had fixt the Papers behind his bed waving the old thredbare artifice of searching for arms advised to make the discovery by the Officers of the Custom-house But here Colonel Mansell understands that his Papers were all returned all his own and more than his own the Treasonable ones to boot and accordingly at his return he finds the Box restored and the Papers lying on the Dresser superscribed by the Master of the house For Col. Mansell These Papers he opens in the presence of Mr. Harris Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Orde desiring them to take notice of them and their number which was Nine and desired for more caution Mr. Harris to put his mark on them that he might more certainly know and confidently own them to be the same when they should come to be examined before Authority which he resolved they should presently be In order to which he carries them with him to advise with a Friend what to do in the case Whose ready advice was To go forthwith to a Secretary of State This he endeavoured but not finding my Lord Sunderland or any of his Clerks at the Office nor Mr. Secretary Coventry or his Clerks in their Office the Earl of Essex and Sir Henry Capel being also from home he addrest himself to a worthy Gentleman Mr. Justice Warcup to whom he opened the whole affair and having got together the Officers of the Custom-house the Master and Mistress of the Colonels Lodgings and whatever other Evidence they then had he was pleased to take their Depositions Upon the whole matter it appeared to him That it was a malicious design of this Mr. Thomas and therefore granted out a Warrant for his apprehension which being delivered to a Constable this vvorthy Gentleman vvent along vvith him to Mr. Celliers a French Merchant and a Papist vvhere Mr. Willoughby now and the St. Omers Boys formerly had lodged where the Justice Constable and Warrant found him As soon as Mr. Willoughby understood their errand he cryed out Oh! this is Mr. Mansell's doing What has he cryed Whore first but I have been this day with the King my self and with Mr. Secretary Coventry and have acquainted them with the business so that I suppose there will be some to enquire for him ere his return Col. Warcup answer'd him That if he found Sureties to appear at the Council-board next morning by nine of the Clock he should at present give him no further trouble And Mr. Cellier the Frtnch Merchant and an Apothecary entring into Recognizance for that end he was bailed Thursday Octob. 23. forenoon That morning as the persons concerned attended the Council in the Lobby Mr. Willoughby met with a very unhappy rencounter who as he was going down the stairs of the Lobby met with one Mr. Doyley an Officer belonging to the Mint who had formerly known and prosecuted one Mr. Willoughby for disposing of false Guinnies and Clipping of Money Mr. Willoughby espying him and being perhaps Conscious of his former Crimes began to Curse without any Provocation Damn and Sink him what had Doyley to say to him Threatning that if he had him out of the Court he would run him through and that when ever he met him in Convenient place he would be Revenged of him Mr. Doyley was indeed Surprised at such course Language and the more because he knew a person of his Character could not have any Affairs that were good there But my Lord Chief Justice North passing by towards the Council and Over-hearing the Repartees Mr. Doyley made Application to his Lordship and presently Mr. Justice Warcup was sent for in and Ordered to take the Information of Mr. Doyley against Mr. Willoughby with order to a Messenger to take Mr. Willoughby into Custody Mr. Justice Warcup directs the messenger to take him to the Kings-head Tavern whither as soon as the Council was risen he promised to come and during the stay there Mr. Willoughby who had his Boy in Livery to wait on him for his trade would have maintain'd it Writes a Note and directs it to Mris. Cellier to this purpose That she should go to the Lord and Lady Powis and acquaint them that he was taken up for the old business they knew of This Note the Messenger would not suffer the Boy to Carry till he read the Contents of it and then he dismist him who carried according to direction This morning the Council had the Affair of Mr. Dugdale before them so that when Collonel Warcup had delivered in his Examinations taken the day before about Mr. Willoughby they were all Commanded to appear in the afternoon at four of the Clock Thursday Oct. 23. Afternoon MR. Willoughby was first call'd in and presently coming forth Collonel Mansell was called in to whom the Lord Chancellor was pleas'd to say What Correspondencies are these you hold Here are Papers of dangerous Consequence such as intimate the Levying of Men and raising Rebellion against his Majesty Here is also a List of mens Names whom you have Enlisted The Collonell humbly replied that he knew nothing of those Letters and Papers neither had he or did or ever would hold any Treasonable Correspondence with any person living He humbly pray'd the Favour of the Honourable Board that he might be permitted to give an account how he came by the sight of those Papers and then he did not Question but he should make it appear that those Papers were designedly and maliciously brought into his Chamber by Mr. Willoughby Hereupon the Collonel gave to their Lordships a full and clear yet Concise Account of what he knew or had been informed in by Persons of the Family where he Lodged and the Officers of the Custom-house and being Commanded to call in his Witnesses he accordingly did so Mr. Alexander Harris was first Sworn who Witnessed that the Papers before that Honourable Board were the same left at his house for Collonel Mansel by the Officer of the Custom-house Mr. Stretch and Mr. Bostock were next Sworn who deposed amongst other matters That Mr. Willoughby having informed them of certain Prohibited Goods concealed in Ax-Yard appointed them to come to him at Mr. Celliers House in Arundel-Buildings the last Monday Whither being come in order to the Search and Seizure Mr. Willoughby told them he was not yet Ready having not yet Lodged at his New Quarters but would not
the Greatest Man in England has engaged me in it To which Capt. Bedford rejoyned Whom do you mean The King Ay! said Mr. Willoughby The King And further That he understood that Mr. Willoughby held Correspondence with the Lord Powis in the Tower and that he had seen the Lady Powis her Coach on Saturday before standing before Mr. Willoughby's Lodgings Mr. Doyley was the next Witness call'd in who Deposed that he had Prosecuted the said Willoughby at two several Sessions held in the Old-Bayley for Clipping of Money and Vending of False Guinnies Mr. Willoughby being Askt what he could say to that Answered That he had been twice there Prosecuted by the said Mr. Doyley but all was out of pure malice He confessed that he had been Fined Fifty Pounds for the First Offence and for the Second had obtained His Majesties Gracious Pardon so that he hoped those Matters should not be remembred against him The Right Honourable the Earl of Essex demanding of him Who had Solicited His Majesty for his Pardon He Answered Capt. Richardson had put his Name into a Pardon for which he gave him Three Guinnies Capt. Richardson was then Examin'd who upon his Oath Witnessed That he had this Mr. Willoughby in his Custody two Sessions That the first time his Fine was remitted and he Discharged That the second time he had put his Name into His Majesties Newgate-Pardon but that he never received any Guinnies from him upon such account and indeed he believed he was then not worth a Guinney That he never had a more Notorious Rogue in his Custody who during the time of his Imprisonment was alwayes contriving Mischief and creating Disturbance amongst the Prisoners That whilst he was there he had practised Forgery That in or about last May one Mrs. Celliers a Roman Catholick and a Midwife whom he had observed to come to the Prison to Visit and Relieve the Papists then in his Custody committed upon the account of the late Plot paid Ten Pounds for the Discharge of the said Willoughby rigg'd him out in handsom Apparel and so took him away Of which he took such particular Notice That he acquainted Mr. Justice Warcub what Mrs. Celliers had done and that this Willoughby was a dangerous Person and desired him to keep an eye upon him That he had observed the said Willoughby at Sir George Wakeman's Tryal to take Notes and that he carried them to the Lord Powis in the Tower And Mr. Doyley further Witnessed that he saw the said Willoughby in the Lord Powis his Lodgings the day after the said Tryal where he heard him villifying Dr. Oates and Captain Bedlow and the rest of the King's Evidence Afterwards one Smith Mr. Willoughby's Foot-Boy was Examined who testified That he was sent with a Message and a Note from his Master then in the Messenger's Hand to Mrs. Cellier desiring her to acquaint the said Lord Powis That he was taken into Custody for the old business he knew of That for two Months before he had Lodged in the Lord Powis his house in Queens-Street That he had several times waited on his Master to the Lord Powis his Lodgings in the Tower which described to be in the Mint that he had rode behind the Coach to attend his Master thither That he had several times carried Letters or Papers from his Master to the said Lord Powis and brought Answers back again to his Master And lastly that the Lady Powis had several times been at his Masters Lodgings at Mrs. Celliers and that particularly on Saturday was seven-night the said Lady had been with his Master in a Tower-Room in private discourse with him alone above half an hour The Lord Chancellor was then pleased to ask Mr. Willoughby whither he had been at the Lord Shaftsburies To which he Answered That he had been several times with him and had Discourses with his Lordship some of which he there Rehearsed To which the Lord Chancellor reply'd You are a fine Fellow first to come to His Majesty and there to tell him one Story Then to the Lord Powis and from thence to my Lord Shaftsburies discovering to one what Discourse you held with the other And thus brought one Story to the Council another to the Earl of Shaftsbury All were commanded to Withdraw there being no need of the Testimony of the rest of the Collonels Witnesses in a Matter so plain and clear And presently a Warrant was issued out from the Council-Board to Commit the said Mr. Willoughby to Newgate where he now remains in his old Quarters and an Order was given for his Prosecution to the Mr. Attorney General VVednesday Octob. 29. 1679. THis day Sir William Waller whose known Activity and Zeal for the Service of His Majesty and the Protestant Religion did never yet abate upon some information thought it Expedient to make a through Search in the House of Mrs. Cellier if perhaps something might be further discovered to give Light to this Mystery of Iniquity where he found that Book containing the Rudiments of their designed Plot upon the Protestants which has been already Exemplifyed And I shall only now give the Copy of the Examination of a Maid-Servant in the House which was as follows The Examination of Anne Blake Servant to Mrs. Cellier taken on Oath before Sir William Waller the 29th October 1679. THis Examinant saith that Mrs. Cellier delivered into her Custody two parcels of papers desiring her to lay them up for her so as they might not be discovered or words to that effect And that in obedience to her Mistresses commands this Examinant hid one parcel of Papers behind the Pewter in the Kitchin and the other parcel wrapt up in a sheet of white paper amongst which was a little Paper-book tied with red Ribbons which for the better security was hid in a Tub of Meal both which parcels were seised by Sir William Waller This Examinant further saith that one Lane was this day at the said Mrs. Cellier's House to speak with her and further this Examinant saith not at present Cap. Jurat coram William Waller The Mark of Anne Blake Saturday November 1. 1679. At the Council Chamber in White-Hall THis day the Right Honourable the present Lord Mayor came to White-Hall and delivered to His Majesty or to His Right Honourable Privy Council the Information of Thomas Dangerfield given upon Oath before his Lordship an Extract whereof the Reader hath already had in these Papers as the Particulars referred to the matters discoursed of This day also several other Persons were examined before the Lords of the Council as followeth Susan Edwards Servant-Maid to Mrs. Cellier who lives in Arundel-Street being sworn says That she carried the two little Papers which were shewed her to Mr. Willoughby in Newgate with Twenty Shillings in Silver and a Guinney and two Books of Accounts that he might be perfect in them and that he looked on the one and not on the other and that on Tuesday Night
in New-gate but remembers not how much it was that he was afterwards in the Counter and sending earnestly to her Mistress to get him out she sent the Examinant to him with 50 s. but the same not being sufficient she brought it back again and 3 l. was afterwards sent She acknowledges that her Mistress bid him get out by Tuesday and that being out he should presently come to her that she did carry several letters between him and her Mrs. but knows not what they were That she did carry two small Vials to the Kings Bench but knows not what they concerned nor whether the Lady Powis was concern'd in that Advice That after carrying the first Bottle she went next morning to the Kings Bench and that Willoughby seâ—t her for a second Bottle it being in a little Vial Glass She ovvns that he spoke to her about sending to Mr. Bedloe and told her also of his acquaintance vvith Strode for that they had formerly been padding together That she once brought money to him to give to Mounson that Mrs. Cellier did acquaint the Lady Powis of Willoughby's desire to see Bedlow to vvhich her Ladiship ansvver'd He might do vvhat he pleased for she vvould not meddle vvith that matter That Willoughby told her he had made Strode high in drink having taken something that hindred him from being in the same Condition and that he gave her some Notes of vvhat he had then learned from Strode As to the cause of her turning away she says it was on this account An Irish-man who is a Sollicitor came once and told her that her Mistress had got an ill Repute by keeping Willoughby for her Stallion And that the truth was they lived in such a manner together at Powis house that the old man her Husband was sent up thither to keep them honest That of this she gave some account to Mrs. Cellier's Daughter and upon this occasion she was turned away her Mistress also telling her that seeing she could not live quietly at her own House she had no farther need of her Service She says she saw Willoughby twice at Powis-House the time she was there waiting at the Table on her Mistress and him and that she poach'd Eggs for them both being asked whether she did not lately hear from Mrs. Cellier by way of advice and instruction how to behave her self she denied that she had any Letter or Message from her or had seen her of a long time Mr. Nevil alias Payne is called in and unto what Mr. Dangerfield objects he says he knows Dangerfield and has seen him four times at Powis-house That he knows not of Willoughby's going to Mr. Webb's in Buckinghamshire That he never had Letters or Papers from the Lady Powis in his life but that with Mrs. Cellier many Letters and Papers have past and denies not but that the Danby-Reflections past out of his hands That by Mrs. Cellier the Papers of Knox Lane and Osborne were brought to him for his advice which having given he sent back He remembers that Willoughby did attend in the Rules when Mrs. Ayry and Dowdell came over to him but knows nothing of twenty seven Papers that he should send back and desires if any such thing be objected to him that he may see his hand That for the many Lists objected he should send over he denies the same He says he knows Mounson and Kemish from many years acquaintance He owns that Mrs. Cellier came to him in the Fleet to tell him of Tortures used against Prance and how that the Lord Shaftesbury was setting up Strode to be a new Witness He says Willoughby told him that he had turned Strode the wrong side outwards He denies the sending of any Letters or Lists to his remembrance and never any Letter to the Tower by any Woman he knows not of the Affidavit made by Lane but will not deny such a thing He says that Knox was troubled he should declare as he did for that he was told that by the Charity which Mrs. Cellier dispersed he was taken from Prison He says that the second discourse he had with Willoughby at Powis-house was how that Mrs. Cellier had offered to procure him an Ensigns place under the Duke of Monmouth in the late Expedition to Scotland or else to stay and depend upon her He says farther that Mrs. Cellier from being his Friend became his utter Enemy Willoughby replies that Mrs. Cellier had sent him 80 l. and that her Husband had been his Security to keep him from Prison but that upon some difference arising upon complaint made that Nevils Daughter was like to turn Whore old Cellier withdrew his Security and so Nevil was returned to Prison Nevile in answer to this reviles Willoughby with many passionate expressions and as to the writing the Pamphlet Timothy Touchstone he denies it and says he knows nothing of Mr. Jeane the Priest in Buckinghamshire As to one Cox in Covent-garden he has been his Agent about his business in Ireland but denies to have heard any thing from him about Ten thousand pound which Mr. Willoughby does object He does acknowledge that he was still for the Advice for Indicting false Witnesses and had twenty times advised the Indicting Oates and Bedloe but as for the framing a Presbyterian Plot and to draw Men in it it had been a great villany and he utterly denies the same That he onely had from Mrs. Cellier Fifteen pound but that she had of his money Seventeen pound That the Commerce between her and Willoughby was very scandalous and she was suspected to defraud the Charity which came through her hands which by the collection of all sorts of Catholicks was about Twenty two pounds per week He acknowledges that he advised Willoughby to compound his Debts and not to depend on shifts of Law He owns that he received all the Tryals that were printed and had fingerd them out as will still appear by the Books he has by him for that seeing how ill things hung together and that some things look like Perjury he thought it was easie to frame Indictments against the Witnesses That as to his informing Willoughby of a List of Mutinous Coffee-houses he denies the same having never been in four or five in his life but it was notorious enough how all the Coffee-houses were factious He declares his great hatred and animosity against Mrs. Cellier who formerly indeed came to him every day but that she caused her Husband to withdraw his Bayl and he was again clapt up To this Dangerfield objects That it was not altogether Mrs. Cellier but the advice of the Lords in the Tower that he should be again confined forasmuch as when he was formerly in that condition he had been very industrious about writing of Papers in their business but that being at liberty he chiefly followed the Play-house Nevile here reflects upon him as a lewd and infamous person To which Willoughby replies If I were such as you say
it makes it the more plain that I could not proceed in such weighty Vndertakings as I have managed without considerable Counsel and Direction which is agreeable to what I have affirmed The Narrator's Conclusion to the whole Work READER THe Net must be cunningly cast that takes all the Fish in the River and this Narrative though it can modestly mention its own industry yet dares not presume that nothing has escaped its diligence but besides it might seem uncivil to leave nothing wherein the Pen of another might travel to reap the Fields so clean that there should be no gleaning for the Poor is Cruelty to leave no Clusters after the Vintage would be interpreted Covetousness and yet I dare avow that he that complains of Penury in this Collection will hardly furnish out his Table with a more plentiful Treat But because there are some particulars which might have been crowded in before yet not without Incoherence which I thought the Reader would grudge if he knew they had escaped him I was willing to adde a few Remarkables which I rather purposely reserved for this place than carelessly omitted in the body of the Discourse § 1. Then it deserves a special Remark that this Mr. Dangerfield who whilst he was a servant to an Instrument in the carrying on their grand Intrigue was a man of great parts amongst them a gallant Gentleman as soon as he begins to be honest to reflect upon those Mazes of Villany wherein by their seduction he had trodden now all of the sudden hears nothing from them but an infamous person one of no Credit whose Testimony must not pass for any thing Strange that he who was thought a credible Witness to have fastned a Paramount Treason upon so many Noble Protestant Lords and worthy Gentlemen should lose his Credibility when he comes to recriminate and cast the Guilt where it ought to lie upon a small number of Catholicks 'T is a singular happiness that our Papists have that their Agents are all honest whilst they do mischief and presently Villains when they discover it Thus they dealt with all those whom remorse and a timely reflexion upon their own evil ways wrought upon to discover the late Plot used their Agency abased their simplicity to execute their Projects and then decryed them for debaucht Criminals when they could serve themselves and their Cause no longer of them from whence we learn that there 's no Crime so great amongst them as Repentance I will here give the Reader the Minutes of the Examinations before His Majesty in Council Tuesday November 4. 1679. relating to this one Remark 1. The Lady Powis saith She hopes the Oath of an infamous person shall not bring her in danger for that no body of common sense would ever confide any thing of Importance to such a Creature as he A very ingenuous Reflection first to make him infamous by his Ghostly Fathers Indulgence to be drunk and then to plead his Infamy to cover their own but let Mr. Willoughby answer for himself who gave this smart Repartee to her Ladiship That he was not so inconsiderable in their Opinion but that they were willing to get him out of Prison at the charge of Sixty pound which in all places it cost him as may appear by his Book which was taken out of his Closet by Sir Will. Waller 2. Mrs. Cellier to whom Mr. Willoughby was such a Croney that they were hand and glove she that used to admire his excellent parts and rare dexterity in the manage of business yet now says She never caused Willoughby or any body else to put forth Pamphlets but that indeed he did make some and put them forth which were very inconsiderable things That Willoughby did once read to her two Pamphlets wherein was no matter of hurt but the things were foolish and mere Chimaera's Then she rails at and reviles Willoughby c. And yet this good Gentlewoman when she came to introduce Mr. Willoughby to the Right Honourable the E. of P. gave a high Character of him that he had much improved himself abroad in the service of the Prince of Orange and the Duke de Villa Hermosa 3. The Lord P. called in saith That he gave his Servants charge to admit Willoughby whenever he came and that he did call him Captain Willoughby yet his Lordship tells the Board he cannot but be troubled to have his name mentioned by so infamous a person as this was 4. Mr. Nevile alias Payne called into the Council on Friday Nov. 7. 1679 saith That Willoughby had writ him a kind of a Challenge which he rejected upon knowledge of his infamous life besides that he was grown in his behaviour proud and as high as a Prince That the Commerce between Mrs. Cellier and Willoughby was very scandalous that she was suspected to defrand the Charity which came through her hands which by the collection of all sorts of Catholicks was about 22 l. per week § 2. I must apologize for the Non-appearance of the so-much-celebrated List of Names fixed or endeavoured to be fixt upon the Lodgings of the Narrator in Ax-yard which I have many cogent Reasons to conceal 1. Lest it should tempt the worthy persons therein to study some revenge upon the Catholicks which being so inconsistent with Protestant Principles those gallant Gentlemen will satisfie themselves with their own Innocency and willingly want what might have awakened even a just Indignation 2. I know not how far such a List might provoke any person against my self and yet I must say thus much I could be content to be half hang'd to save the lives or the longings of such honourable persons 3. I have a Reason worth two of these I did not because I could not publish it all my industry and interest not having been able hitherto to procure it It was once in my Chamber it seems when I was willing to be honestly rid of it but now I wish it there it will not come and I profess I will forgive Mr. Dangerfield from the beginning of the world to this day if he will once more come and pin it at my beds-head and the Key shall lie under the door against he is at leisure § 3. One particular omitted in the Information of Mr. Dangerfield must here be retrieved The next day says he I went to Lord Castlemain who demanded Why I was so unwilling willing to do that for which I was taken out of the Prison and frown'd much on me and sent his man down and I fearing his fury laid my hand to my Sword and came down stairs he not approaching and went away and told Mrs. Cellier my Lord Castlemain was angry with me Oh said she 't is his custom to fall out one hour and be good friends the next Then she advised me to go to Confession and Receive which I did of Mr. Sharp and he having notice of my Refusal to my Lord Powis and Lord Arundel would scarce let me come from him but told me I must do Penance for denying to serve God in that which the Scriptures taught Then I demanded If they taught me to kill my King He answered Yes if he were condemned thereby But I got from him and was then about to have discovered all But coming home I found the Lady Powis with Mrs. Cellier and when she saw me sent for me in and laughed I said Madam it is not a laughing matter I Then she said Know you what I laugh at I answered I did Well well said she Mr. Willoughby will be honest and do us no harm I am sure Then I sat down and had some discourse and she said The Duke of York was coming and that would somewhat qualifie the Rage of the Presbyterians What these Romish Zealots will be at next time must discover and when time shall discover it I wish the Protestants may make a good improvement of their Mercies FINIS